YEREVAN. – Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan issued a statement with reference to the removal of The Civilitas Foundation founder, former FM, and Prosperous Armenia Party MP Vartan Oskanian’s parliamentary immunity.

“What do the NSS [National Security Service], Prosecutor General’s Office and the parliament have to do with the good-neighborly relations [among] John Huntsman, Vartan Oskanian, and The Civilitas Foundation he founded? 

This is a case of the parliament discrediting itself, [together] with the adverse consequences to the country’s standing.  

Vartan Oskanian was one of the most successful ministers and an Armenian politician who withstood the test of the authorities. He is effective and noble. He is exceptionally righteous. Such people need to be cherished and not persecuted, especially since he represents a [political] party with a very considerable electorate.  

The absurdity of this entire story is disappointing.    

I regret what happened and extend my goodwill and support to Vartan Oskanian,” Robert Kocharyan’s statement reads in particular.       

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, the National Assembly on Tuesday voted—by 64 ballots for, six against, and with one invalid vote—in favor of Prosecutor General’s petition to include Vartan Oskanian as a defendant in a criminal lawsuit. A total of 71 MPs participated in the voting.

To note, on May 25 the National Security Service (NSS) Department of Investigation filed a criminal lawsuit on charges of money laundering with respect to The Civilitas Foundation.

The NSS Press Center had informed that an investigation is underway in connection with selling the 100-percent shares of the Huntsman Building Products Company for around $2 million, but not informing Armenia’s tax authorities about this business deal; not using for charitable purposes $1,135,000 of that amount envisioned for charity; transferring this amount to the bank accounts opened under the names of the Civilitas Foundation’s founder Vartan Oskanian,  and of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees member Tigran Karapetyan; and using some of this amount for private purposes.

In addition, as per the NSS Press Center, The Civilitas Foundation had not presented a report on the $2 million allocated for charitable purposes. In his turn, Vartan Oskanian considers the charges to be politically motivated.

The Civilitas Foundation was founded in 2008 by Vartan Oskanian. After joining Prosperous Armenia Party ahead of the May 6 parliamentary elections, however, Oskanian gave up his post as the Foundation Chairman.